Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Trueman Lowther

Today marks my first post in what I hope will be a long long process of tracing some of my family roots and finding information about my family members from long ago. I am starting today with a post in my late Great Grandfather Lewis Trueman Lowther. 

Here is what I have learned about him:


Born – June 11, 1896, Kensington PEI
Died – June 12, 1986 – Age 90, Rice Point, PEI

He served for Canada in WWI and WWII. He enlisted in1915 at the age of 19 and was deployed on October 12th, 1915 with the 85th Battalion of the Nova Scotia Highlanders, Canadian Expeditionary Force. 

By 1916 he was Corporal and stationed at the Aldershot Camp, Nova Scotia

In WWI he fought at Cayeaux, France in 1918 as part of the 4th Divisional Wing, Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp, part of the 85th Battalion

As a Lieutenant, he was wounded on Sept 27th, 1918 as part of the battle of Passchendale (3rd Battle of Ypres) He was shot in the foot. He returned to France in December, 1918

After his recovery, he was sent to Rixensart, Belgium in January, 1919.
In April 1919 he was given command of “H” Company of the 85th Canadian Infantry Battalion (N.S.H.)

On July 3rd, 1925 his son Lewis Huggin Lowther was born

He was the president of the PEI Teacher Federation from 1923-25 and was on the Finance committee in 1927

In 1932 he was the president of the Charlottetown Royal Canadian Legion
He was on the Royal Military College Advisory Board
In 1933 he was 2nd in Command and by 1936 he was the Commanding officer of the Prince Edward Island Light Horse Regiment

In 1939 he was named Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of PEI


 



On Jan 23rd, 1940 he left his job as the Principal of Prince Street School to go overseas. 
In 1940, he was given a job as the Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General at the Canadian Military Headquarters in London, England. 
He was the commanding officer of the West Nova Scotia Regiment in 1941 from January to March 1941.

In May 1941 – he was recalled from his post in London and was appointed a Staff Officer at the Royal Military College in charge of the Senior Officers Course.

In 1942 he was given the post of General Staff Officer 1 with the 6th Canadian Division (believe this is when he served in B.C. for a few years.

He was awarded the following medals:

- Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal as Major

- In January, 1943, at the age of 46, he was awarded “Officer of the Order of the British Empire” for his service to the Crown.

In 1935 was awarded the King George V Jubilee Medal as a Major

- Efficiency Decoration in 1936.

In 1946 he returned to be principal of Prince Street School after his service.
In 1947 he was an executive member of the Abegweit Amateur Athletics Association.
In 1948 he went to Saskatoon for a Legion Convention

In a book called “History of Prince Street School” written by Mabel Matheson, L.T. is considered a progressive leader and principal of the school having “an enviable record of scholastic achievement” and having implemented the following:

- Purchase of playground equipment
- Activities through the winter months at the Sports Arena
- Hired a Sports Director

LT was the first principal of Queen Charlotte School in PEI when it opened on Dec 6th, 1954

From 1949-1950 he was the PEI Music Festival Association President

In 1949 he was on the Canadian Legion Interprovincial Committee on Education. 

From 1950-1954 was the commanding officer of the Prince Street School Cadet Corps